George Hatza: Noteworthy missteps by Oscar voters

You've just got to love those Oscar voters. Without them, who would we have to criticize during the first two months each year?

The rules say you're allowed to nominate between five and 10 films for best picture. The last three years the voters have nominated nine. What? They couldn't find a 10th worthy of consideration? Like, say, Woody Allen's unique and moving "Blue Jasmine," combining Tennessee Williams with the world of contemporary stock fraud.

And where's director Spike Jonze, who brought both heartache and a discerning edginess to "Her"?

Judi Dench was fine in "Philomena," but if you're being honest, it's a performance she phoned in. Someone like Greta Gerwig in "Frances Ha" or Emma Thompson in "Saving Mr. Banks" easily could have filled that leading-actress spot. An even bolder choice would have been Adele Exarchopoulos, the young star of "Blue Is the Warmest Color," whose nuances fueled every scene of that complex picture.

I'm not as disappointed by Tom Hanks' missing out for his breathtaking final 15 minutes in "Captain Phillips" as I am about the oversight of Robert Redford who single-handedly carried "All Is Lost" without speaking more than 20 or so words.

"American Hustle," a brilliant comedy that captured 10 nominations, deserved one more for its inventive makeup and hairstyling. It's a film in which makeup and hair design define the characters and their intentions. It's not just there to look pretty. There's a reason the film begins with Christian Bale's character fiddling with his hairpiece.

It's a movie about perception, about the art of illusion. What makes this omission so egregious is that makeup artists and hairstylists are the ones who nominate in this category.